Thriving With Your Support

Thursday, December 19, 2013

by Lincoln Park Zoo

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The past year was a big one for Lincoln Park Zoo. We broke ground on our next great exhibit, Regenstein Macaque Forest and Lionel Train Adventure. We welcomed new arrivals including a kangaroo joey, vulture chick, baby gibbon and, of course, black rhino King.

Looking back, though, I think that our greatest moment may be one that started in potential tragedy. As you remember, baby gorilla Nayembi sustained a serious facial injury in February. Our animal care experts responded immediately, but we weren’t sure what the outcome would be for the 3-month-old.

The zoo’s animal care staff tended to her around the clock. In nurturing the little one, our human caregivers did their best to channel their inner gorilla, displaying the behaviors of Nayembi’s natural family group in the hopes that she could one day be reintroduced to mom Rollie and the rest of Kwan’s troop.

It wasn’t easy. But thanks to their constant commitment, this hoped-for reintroduction happened this fall. Right now Nayembi lives with the rest of her family at Regenstein Center for African Apes, climbing and playing with her troopmates as a little gorilla should.

Obviously, we wish Nayembi’s injury had never happened. But its aftermath saw Lincoln Park Zoo at its best. There was the absolute commitment of our animal care staff—their resolve to do whatever was needed to help Nayembi recover. There was also comfort from the community as so many friends of the zoo shared their sympathies and reached out to help this little gorilla heal.

The 186 days of around-the-clock care that Nayembi needed to recover from her injury ultimately cost $107,508. That sum came from our members, donors and sponsors, the same people who keep our gates free and open 365 days a year, supporting zoo conservation around the globe and education at home.